Verdict

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. (AP) - An appeals court has thrown out a $3.6 million verdict in favor of a family that wanted to sell land for a Walmart store in Frankenmuth. The court found problems with the verdict form. The court said Monday a new trial should be held because the legal basis for the jury's decision in 2010 is unclear. Ronald Loesel and family members sued Frankenmuth after city officials passed a law restricting the size of stores to 65,000 square feet or less. The ordinance effectively killed the $3 million sale of 24 acres to Wal-Mart Stores in 2006.

Michael Jackson may have moonwalked his way to acquittal, but his case in the court of public opinion is yet to be determined. Jackson was acquitted on all counts in his child molestation trial - cleared of 10 charges in all, including four counts that he molested a boy in early 2003. Jackson also was charged with providing the boy with wine - "Jesus juice," the pop star called it - and conspiring with members of his inner circle to hold the accuser and his family captive to get them to rebut a damaging documentary.

CHARLEVOIX ? A Charlevoix County Circuit Court Jury found Charles Merriman, 58, guilty of second degree murder in connection with the June 2006 disappearance of his brother, Bill. After more than 11 hours of deliberation, the 10-woman, two-man jury returned its verdict at about 10:30 a.m. Friday. Merriman will be sentenced on Friday, June 6, at which time he faces maximum possible sentence of up to life in prison. Defense attorney Dan Hartman said today his client maintains he is innocent, and is likely to appeal.

Christina Rohn News-Review Staff Writer The verdict is in. Thursday, after two days and more than seven hours of deliberation, a 57th Circuit Court jury found 33-year-old Michael Jarvis of Pellston guilty on two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct - both felonies punishable up to 15 years in prison. The jury also found Jarvis not guilty of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, felonies punishable up to life in prison; and not guilty of one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

CHARLEVOIX - Some unusual circumstances have led prosecutors in Charlevoix County to re-issue previously dismissed sexual assault charges against a former Cheboygan County man. Charlevoix County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Shaynee Fanara said earlier this month she re-issued three counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct against Aaron Beishlag, 39, now of Harrison. The charge is punishable by up to life in prison. The charges stem from allegations that for an eight-month period from June 2003 to February 2004, Beishlag, then 34, had a long-term sexual relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time.

CHARLEVOIX - The six-member Charlevoix Circuit Court jury found that former Charlevoix County prosecutor Mary Beth Kur "constructively discharged" her former employees Sandra Ward and Jacqueline Rozema through abusive behavior that created intolerable working conditions in the office, and awarded them approximately $500,000 each in damages. The unanimous verdict came at the end of a seven-day trial of the suits that had earlier been dismissed by Grand Traverse Circuit Judge Thomas Power for lack of merit.

GAYLORD - It took a jury more than six hours to reach a verdict of guilty in the assault with intent to commit murder re-trial of Thomas Urban. The jury in Urban's first trial in April was hung on the charge, as well as one charge of felony firearm. "Thank God," was all Urban's wife, Gail Urban, had to say in response to the verdict in Chief Judge Alton Davis' 46th Circuit Trial courtroom Friday afternoon. After the verdict was read, Urban was handcuffed immediately and returned to the Otsego County Jail where he has been lodged since his arrest Sept.

CHARLEVOIX - A judge has denied a motion to throw out a circuit court jury verdict that earlier this year awarded a total of more than $1 million to two former Charlevoix County Prosecutor's office employees. In a decision and order signed on July 20, Grand Traverse County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Power threw out a motion filed by the defendants in the case, Charlevoix County and former Charlevoix County prosecutor Mary Beth Kur. The defendant's motion had asked the court to for a "judgment notwithstanding the verdict, new trial and/or remittitur" in the Whistleblower's Protection Act lawsuit in which former county employees Sandra Ward and Jacqueline Rozema prevailed earlier this year.

FRANKENMUTH, Mich. (AP) - An appeals court has thrown out a $3.6 million verdict in favor of a family that wanted to sell land for a Walmart store in Frankenmuth. The court found problems with the verdict form. The court said Monday a new trial should be held because the legal basis for the jury's decision in 2010 is unclear. Ronald Loesel and family members sued Frankenmuth after city officials passed a law restricting the size of stores to 65,000 square feet or less. The ordinance effectively killed the $3 million sale of 24 acres to Wal-Mart Stores in 2006.

DETROIT (AP) - A judge on Thursday threw out the murder convictions of two brothers serving life without parole for a 25-year-old drug house robbery and shotgun slaying in Detroit, after new witnesses came forward to say they saw other men commit the crime. Then-Detroit Judge Terrance Boyle convicted Thomas and Raymond Highers in 1988 in a nonjury trial. Talon found the men guilty of first-degree murder in the June 1987 death of Robert Karey, 65, at his home near Detroit City Airport.

CHICAGO (AP) - Jurors shrugged off Jennifer Hudson's star status and insisted it played no role in their decision to convict her former brother-in-law for slaying the Oscar winner's mother, brother and nephew - a verdict that means the 31-year-old Chicago man will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. "This wasn't about her," juror Jacinta Gholston told reporters Friday evening. "It was a case about William Balfour. " Balfour, a former gang member, was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder.

Christina Rohn News-Review Staff Writer The verdict is in. Thursday, after two days and more than seven hours of deliberation, a 57th Circuit Court jury found 33-year-old Michael Jarvis of Pellston guilty on two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct - both felonies punishable up to 15 years in prison. The jury also found Jarvis not guilty of three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, felonies punishable up to life in prison; and not guilty of one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

CHARLEVOIX - Some unusual circumstances have led prosecutors in Charlevoix County to re-issue previously dismissed sexual assault charges against a former Cheboygan County man. Charlevoix County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Shaynee Fanara said earlier this month she re-issued three counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct against Aaron Beishlag, 39, now of Harrison. The charge is punishable by up to life in prison. The charges stem from allegations that for an eight-month period from June 2003 to February 2004, Beishlag, then 34, had a long-term sexual relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time.

CHARLEVOIX ? A Charlevoix County Circuit Court Jury found Charles Merriman, 58, guilty of second degree murder in connection with the June 2006 disappearance of his brother, Bill. After more than 11 hours of deliberation, the 10-woman, two-man jury returned its verdict at about 10:30 a.m. Friday. Merriman will be sentenced on Friday, June 6, at which time he faces maximum possible sentence of up to life in prison. Defense attorney Dan Hartman said today his client maintains he is innocent, and is likely to appeal.

An Emmet County Circuit Court jury has returned a split verdict for a former Boyne Falls man who was facing a pair of criminal charges for breaking his cane over the head of a Petoskey police officer during a traffic stop. Having Problems? Update Flash. Following about two-and-a-half hours of deliberation Thursday, the eight-woman, four-man jury found Reggie Bernard Burks Sr., 47 not guilty on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, a four-year felony and guilty on a charge of resisting and obstructing police, a two year felony.